Transfer Community
Located at Porter College, the Transfer Community is UCSC’s primary housing option for incoming transfer students. This residence hall community offers an ideal home base for transfer students looking to build connections, access support, and settle into university life, and is open to students of any college affiliation. With dedicated programs and resources, the Transfer Community is designed to help students make a smooth transition to campus and thrive both academically and socially. The nearby Redwood Grove apartments are also available for incoming transfer students age 23 and older.
Transfer Community residence halls
The Transfer Community is a residence hall community with a variety of room types (triples are most common). All rooms are furnished, and a meal plan is required.
Eligibility: Open to incoming transfer students (regardless of college affiliation)
- Location: Porter College (Porter A- and B-Buildings)
- Room types: triples (most common), large triples, doubles, singles (limited number), and quints
- Floors may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Bathrooms are all-gender and designed for privacy
- Meal plan included in the housing contract (required for residence hall students)
Residence hall floor plans
Floor plans are for general room layout and configuration. They are not exact in scale. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Triple
Large Triple
Double
Single
Quint
Redwood Grove apartments
Redwood Grove is a small, quiet apartment community for incoming transfer students located just across the Porter College Bridge from the Transfer Community residence halls.
Eligibility: Open to incoming transfer students (regardless of college affiliation). Students must be 23 or older.
- Four single bedrooms per unit
- Full kitchen, bathroom, living room, and dining room in each unit
- Ground floor apartments have decks; upper apartments have private balconies
- Bedrooms in apartments are single-gender, but apartments may be single-gender or mixed-gender
- Meal plan not required (not included in housing contract), though voluntary meal plans are available
Redwood Grove floor plans
Floor plans are for general room layout and configuration. They are not exact in scale. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
Triple
Redwood Grove virtual tours
Virtual tours are for general room layout and configuration. Furniture arrangements vary by room and residence.
View our virtual tours on YouTube:
Apartment rates
Community living options
When you complete your housing application, you will have an opportunity to indicate interest in specific community living options. This includes residence floor gender options, and theme options.
Floor and apartment gender options
Location: Residence halls and apartments
Eligibility: Available to both new and continuing students
- LGBTQIA+ Housing: Open to all students, including students of all identities within the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. This option fosters an open and supportive living environment. Available only in mixed-gender areas.
- Mixed-Gender Housing: Students of any gender live on the same floor or in the same apartment. Bedrooms are single-gender, while bathrooms may be designated mixed-gender with private toilet and shower stalls.
- Single Gender Housing: Students of a single gender live together, with bathrooms primarily used by individuals who identify with that gender. Availability is based on demand, and may not be offered in all room types or theme options.
BIPOC Transfer Community
Location: Transfer Community residence halls
Eligibility: Incoming transfer students
This intentional community is designed for all students whose interests span historical, present-day, and future experiences of predominantly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to explore elements of diversity and social justice, create a deeper understanding and appreciation for others, celebrate inclusion, and become agents for social change.
21+ Quiet
Location: Transfer Community residence halls
Eligibility: Incoming transfer students
This residence hall option is for students who are 21 years of age or older at the time of application. Students agree to maintain a quiet environment to enhance study.
Trans-Inclusive Housing
Location: Redwood Grove apartments
Eligibility: Continuing students and transfer students of any college affiliationThis Trans-inclusive Housing option is for students of any college affiliation above the first-year/frosh level. Students accepted into this housing option do not need to be 23 or older. Supplementary housing application questions are required.
Nearby dining options
Amenities and nearby resources
In addition to the amenities common to all of UCSC’s colleges—like laundry facilities and a secure mailroom—the Transfer Community at Porter is home to a variety of unique features that help define its community.
Dining options
UCSC Dining has lots of locations across campus—these are closest to the Transfer Community:
- Porter/Kresge Dining Hall
- Porter Market
- Owl’s Nest Café
More food options close to the Transfer Community:
- Rachel Carson/Oakes Dining Hall
Community spaces and resources
- Sesnon Galleries
- Koi Pond
- Iconic “Porter Squiggle” sculpture
- Study center
- Hitchcock Lounge
- MakerSpace Co-op
- Arts Instructional Computing Laboratories
- Annual Queer Fashion Show
- Porter Meadows
Community spaces
Campuswide Theme Housing
Campuswide Theme Housing options are open to all students and are centered around shared interests, academics, community engagement, and support.
Location: Various locations across campus.
Eligibility: Open to students of any college affiliation; a few supplementary questions are required in the housing application.
Mail and contact info
Student mailing address
Use the address below as your campus mailing address. Be sure to include your box number!
For students living at Porter College:
Student’s Name
UCSC, Porter College #XXX
411 Porter-Kresge Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
For students living at Redwood Grove:
Student’s Name
UCSC, Kresge College, #XXX
510 Porter-Kresge Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
You’ll receive your mailbox number at move-in. Early deliveries cannot be accepted at the residential facilities.
Need to ship items before you arrive?
Learn about Collegeboxes and pre-arrival shipping.
Housing verification letter
After move-in, you can obtain a Housing Verification letter in the Housing Portal if you need to demonstrate that you currently live in UCSC university housing in order to open a bank account, obtain a driver’s license or identification card, or for any other need.
Finding the Transfer Community
The Transfer Community is located at Porter College. Use the map above to explore the area or get directions.
Finding the Redwood Grove apartments
The Redwood Grove apartments are located near Porter College—just across the Porter College Bridge, on Heller Drive.
Who to contact
The Transfer Community housing office
Questions about room and roommate assignments, or day-to-day residential life:
Phone: (831) 459-4433
Email: transfercommunity@ucsc.edu
Redwood Grove apartments
Questions about living at Redwood Grove:
Phone: (831) 459-5282
Email: redwoodgrove@ucsc.edu
UCSC Student Housing Services
Questions about housing application/contract records and room-and-board billing:
Email: housing@ucsc.edu
Next steps for transfer students
Ready to apply, or exploring all your housing options? Our Transfer Students Start Here page has everything you need to know—including how to apply, key deadlines, and other communities open to transfer students.